Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Thanks Kalina54, but the viewfinder was closed tight as I mentioned in the origional post above.

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Thanks and a good thought. That mark was there in some degree in most of my ND exposures that day though.

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

I really looks like a light leak but it's a screw in filter, no holder used. You got me to wondering if possibly the filter was cross threaded and not screwed in all the way. I did some testing indoors today and can't find any flaw in the filter itself at all. I also did a bunch of long exposures while indoors and using a flashlight aimed at the flash housing, viewfinder, etc., tried to find a light leak but couldn't find any.

So kinda back to square one and thanks to everyone who replied. I will do some more testing outdoors next week weather permitting and let you know if I find anything.

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Well look at this guys.... a poster on DPR (digital photography review) has the answer I think. The early 24-70 lenses exhibited a light leak on the little window where the focusing distance scale is. Follow this link and you'll see that his light leak is EXACTLY the same is as mine, so the problem should be solved if I just cover that little window like he did. Thanks again for your kind replies... :) !

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4251332#forum-post-60727665

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

I just went back and re-read an article I read earlier seems that the Lee filter holder for the 14 -24 nikkor has a problem with light entering from the short petal side , I know you are using a screw in ,but this guy fashioned a cloth mask to cover the short petal side , could it be possible the is coming from the short petal side diagonally? If so you could fashion a simple black shroud from construction paper that you could turn the petal into a full shroud without vienghting and could slide in and out . I just bought the Haida holder for my 14 - 24 nikkor that is why it is fresh in my mind .Again I know yours is a screw in but I had lens flare issues on a sigma 10 - 20 . Because of the short petal....

Ernie Misner Loc: Lakewood, WA

Thanks nikonbrain! (cool handle... :) As I mentioned in my last post, my problem is fixed and nothing to do with the lens hood in this case. The 24-70 lenses (early ones) had a light leak in the little focus window on top of the lens. Good tips about the short petal side though in case that crops up. I respect your dedication to the 14-24 and getting the Haida holder also. Keep me posted, will be fun to see the pics. Thanks again.

nikonbrain Loc: Crystal River Florida

Glad you found the answer , Brain is my last name Nikon has always been my camera chose . ya I got the 14- 24 for landscapes here in Florida sunrises and sunsets sell well here . River scenes with big cypress trees with sunsets look great too . I am wanting to do these local features with star fields in them on calm clear nights. I plan on do vertical stitched panoramas as to capture sky and forground. Only had the lens 2 months , I got the d810 last year at this time saved up this year and got the lens bought from Nikonusa at year end REFURBISHED sales ....keep shooting.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

It could be a natural weather effect. A rainbow occurs when it is raining against a dark sky that's lit by the sun. If the rain abruptly stops aloft, the rainbow stops. So the abrupt end of the effect could be perfectly natural. This is just a guess, I have no idea if my explanation is correct.